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The new-look Youngstown State women's basketball team had five players score in double figures and made 11 3-pointers as it held on for a gritty 70-67 victory at Eastern Michigan on Tuesday in the 2021-22 season opener for both teams.
Four starters and one reserve each scored between 11 and 13 points for the Penguins, who had five players make their debuts in the Red and White. Lilly Ritz had 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds, and Chelsea Olson finished with 13 points, four assists and four rebounds as one of three Penguins to make three 3-pointers. Paige Shy also scored 13 points and made three triples, and she had a big offensive rebound in the final 20 seconds with YSU clinging to a two-point advantage.
Ahead 69-67 with 51 seconds left, the Penguins ran the shot clock down and had to settle for a contested, one-handed attempt from 3-point range by Olson that was off the mark. Shy ran down the miss, and Malia Magestro split a pair of free throws after a timeout to give YSU the 70-67 lead that ended up being the final score. Magestro finished with 13 points to tie for team-high honors, and Lexi Wagner scored 11 points off the bench.
YSU's Mady Aulbach was whistled for a foul on a tie-up with nine seconds left, but Courtnie Lewis missed both free-throw attempts for EMU. Areanna Combs, who led all scorers with 19 points, grabbed the offensive rebound for Eastern Michigan, but a tying 3-point attempt from Lachelle Austin also missed. Ritz grabbed the rebound with 2.6 seconds remaining, and Megan Callahan dribbled out the remainder of the clock to give YSU its first win at EMU in four contests.
Youngstown State held a slight edge in field-goal percentage at 40.4 percent to 38.9 percent, and the Penguins went 11-for-22 from 3-point range and 17-for-20 from the free-throw line. Both teams made 21 field goals, YSU made four more triples, and Eastern Michigan had one more free throw.
The Penguins led at the end of each quarter and held the upper hand for more than 28 minutes, but they had to battle to pick up the season-opening win.
YSU's first lead came when Ritz scored on a pass from Olson at the 4:03 mark of the opening period to make the score 9-8. EMU tied the score at 11, but Youngstown State scored 17 of the next 21 points, including 11 straight, to take a 28-15 lead at the 6:19 mark of the second quarter. Wagner hit two 3s during that 11-point run, and Olson hit another. Eastern Michigan was able to shave eight points off the deficit and trailed 34-29 at halftime.
The Eagles then scored on their first seven possessions of the third period to knock the Penguins back a bit and take a 44-39 lead. YSU was whistled for five fouls in the first 3:02 of the quarter as EMU built the five-point advantage. Magestro hit a big 3 for the Penguins to cut the margin to spark a five-point burst that tied the game, and Eastern Michigan's final lead of the game came at 48-46. Jen Wendler's basket tied the game at 48, and two Shy free throws and Wagner's third 3-pointer of the afternoon put the Penguins up 53-48 with 3:11 left. They did not trail again.
Shy and Olson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Penguins a 59-52 lead 90 seconds into the fourth period, and the lead was seven twice more, including 65-58 after a Ritz basket with 4:57 left. Aulbach hit a floater at the end of the shot clock to put YSU up 67-62 with 3:24 left, and Magestro went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes for the final Penguin points. Youngstown State held Eastern Michigan to two points over the final 3:12.
Youngstown State will make its long-awaited return to play in front of the Beeghly Center faithful on Monday as the Penguins will host Akron. It will be the first time YSU will play with fans in attendance at home since February 2020. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and 570 WKBN.
